*1918 Tsar [[Nicholas II of Russia]] murdered together with his wife [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children; Metr. [[Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of Kiev and Gallich]] first bishop to be tortured and slain by Russian Communists; deaths of of Hieromartyr [[Andronik of Perm|Andronik, Archbishop of Perm]] and [[Elizabeth the New Martyr]].

+

*1918 Tsar [[Nicholas II of Russia]] murdered together with his wife [[Alexandra Romanov|Alexandra]] and children; Metr. [[Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of Kiev and Gallich]] first bishop to be tortured and slain by Russian Communists; deaths of of Hieromartyr [[Andronik of Perm|Andronik, Archbishop of Perm]] and [[Elizabeth the New Martyr]]; after the [[w:Armistice Day|Armistice]], in Britain the "St. Sophia Redemption Committee" is formed, whose members included two future Foreign Secretaries and many prominent public figures, seeking to restore [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] into an Orthodox Church (1918-1922).

*1919-1922 [[w:Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)|Greco-Turkish War]]; a million refugees flee to Greece joining half a million Greeks who had fled earlier; [[w:Pontic Greek Genocide|Pontic Greek Genocide]] eliminates the Christian population of Trebizond.

*1919-1922 [[w:Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)|Greco-Turkish War]]; a million refugees flee to Greece joining half a million Greeks who had fled earlier; [[w:Pontic Greek Genocide|Pontic Greek Genocide]] eliminates the Christian population of Trebizond.

−

*1920 Death of [[Nektarios of Aegina]]; publication of Encyclical Letters by Constantinople on Christian unity and on the Ecumenical Movement.

+

*1920 Death of [[Nektarios of Aegina]]; publication of Encyclical Letters by Constantinople on Christian unity and on the Ecumenical Movement; re-establishment of the [[Church of Serbia|Patriarchate of Serbia]] with the unification of the [[w:Patriarchate of Karlovci|Patriarchate of Karlovci]] (in the Habsburg Monarchy) with the [[w:Metropolitanate of Belgrade|Metropolitanate of Belgrade]] (in the Kingdom of Serbia) and the election of Patr. [[Dimitrije (Pavlovic) of Serbia|Dimitrije (Pavlovic)]].

*1921 [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, with Alexandrian primate thenceforth known as ''Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and All Africa]]''; [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|Greek Archdiocese of America]] formed ; Abp. [[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon (Belavin)]] elected Patriarch of Moscow; [[Gorazd (Pavlik) of Prague|Gorazd (Pavlik)]] consecrated as bishop for Western Rite Diocese of Moravia and Silesia; an all-Ukrainian Synod is called in Kyiv and the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]] (UAOC) (as yet unrecognized) is declared independent from the Moscow Patriarchate (MP).

*1921 [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]] renounces all claims to jurisdiction in any part of Africa, with Alexandrian primate thenceforth known as ''Pope and Patriarch of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria and All Africa]]''; [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|Greek Archdiocese of America]] formed ; Abp. [[Tikhon of Moscow|Tikhon (Belavin)]] elected Patriarch of Moscow; [[Gorazd (Pavlik) of Prague|Gorazd (Pavlik)]] consecrated as bishop for Western Rite Diocese of Moravia and Silesia; an all-Ukrainian Synod is called in Kyiv and the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]] (UAOC) (as yet unrecognized) is declared independent from the Moscow Patriarchate (MP).

Line 16:

Line 17:

*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by [[Church of Constantinople]]; [[w:Treaty of Lausanne|Treaty of Lausanne]] affirmed the international status of the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]], with Turkey guaranteeing respect and the Patriarchate’s full protection; [[w:Psychoanalysis|Psychoanalyst]] Sigmund Freud defines the [[w:Id, ego, and super-ego|Id–Ego-Super-ego]] as the three theoretical constructs of the Psyche.

*1923 [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]] granted [[autonomy]] by [[Church of Constantinople]]; [[w:Treaty of Lausanne|Treaty of Lausanne]] affirmed the international status of the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]], with Turkey guaranteeing respect and the Patriarchate’s full protection; [[w:Psychoanalysis|Psychoanalyst]] Sigmund Freud defines the [[w:Id, ego, and super-ego|Id–Ego-Super-ego]] as the three theoretical constructs of the Psyche.

*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of [[Church of Poland]]; death of [[Arsenios the Cappadocian]], the Wonderworker; Bp. [[Daniel William Alexander]] convenes meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the (non-canonical) ''"African Orthodox Church"'' in New York under [[George Alexander McGuire]]; Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the USA splits into two separate jurisdictions, one for those from Galicia, and another for those from Carpatho-Ukraine, Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia.

*1924 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of [[Church of Poland]]; death of [[Arsenios the Cappadocian]], the Wonderworker; Bp. [[Daniel William Alexander]] convenes meeting in Kimberley, South Africa, which decides to secede from the African Church (a Protestant denomination) and affiliate with the (non-canonical) ''"African Orthodox Church"'' in New York under [[George Alexander McGuire]]; Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the USA splits into two separate jurisdictions, one for those from Galicia, and another for those from Carpatho-Ukraine, Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia.

−

*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]]; first Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptized in Tanganyika by Fr. Nikodemos Sarikas; death of [[Tikhon of Moscow]]; death of [[Jonah of Manchuria]].

+

*1925 [[Church of Romania]] becomes a [[patriarchate]]; first Africans in sub-Saharan Africa baptized in Tanganyika by Fr. [[Nikodemos Sarikas]]; death of [[Tikhon of Moscow]]; death of [[Jonah of Manchuria]].

*1926 Polish Catholic National Church received as a [[Western Rite]] diocese in Poland of [[Church of Russia]] under Bp. Alexis of Grodno; [[John Maximovitch]] tonsured by [[ROCOR]] Metr. [[Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev]]; the Benedictine monastery [[w:Chevetogne Abbey|Chevetogne Abbey]] is founded in Belgium, dedicated to Christian unity, being a ‘double rite’ monastery having both Western (Latin rite) and Eastern (Byzantine rite) churches holding services every day.

*1926 Polish Catholic National Church received as a [[Western Rite]] diocese in Poland of [[Church of Russia]] under Bp. Alexis of Grodno; [[John Maximovitch]] tonsured by [[ROCOR]] Metr. [[Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of Kiev]]; the Benedictine monastery [[w:Chevetogne Abbey|Chevetogne Abbey]] is founded in Belgium, dedicated to Christian unity, being a ‘double rite’ monastery having both Western (Latin rite) and Eastern (Byzantine rite) churches holding services every day.

−

*1927 Daniel William Alexander travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of African Orthodox Church; Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established; bishops of Russian church in America authorize formation of [[American Orthodox Catholic Church]], including a [[Western Rite]] missionary outreach; death of [[Ambrose (Khelaia) the Confessor]].

+

*1927 [[Daniel William Alexander]] travels from South Africa to America to be consecrated a bishop of African Orthodox Church; Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg established; bishops of Russian church in America authorize formation of [[American Orthodox Catholic Church]], including a [[Western Rite]] missionary outreach; death of [[Ambrose (Khelaia) the Confessor]].

*1929 Papal Bull ''Cum data fuerit'' regulates Uniate clergy in the US, mandating celibacy, resulting in the return of several parishes back to Orthodoxy in 1938; kingdom of Italy and Papacy ratify [[w:Lateran Treaty|Lateran Treaty]], recognizing sovereignty of Papacy within the new state of the [[w:Vatican City|Vatican City]]; "[[w:Collegium Russicum|Russicum]]" (Russian College or 'College of St. Therese') founded in Vatican City by Pope Pius XI and run by the [[w:Society of Jesus|Jesuits]]; Russian Fraternity of Saint Irenee in France celebrates [[Western Rite]].

*1929 Papal Bull ''Cum data fuerit'' regulates Uniate clergy in the US, mandating celibacy, resulting in the return of several parishes back to Orthodoxy in 1938; kingdom of Italy and Papacy ratify [[w:Lateran Treaty|Lateran Treaty]], recognizing sovereignty of Papacy within the new state of the [[w:Vatican City|Vatican City]]; "[[w:Collegium Russicum|Russicum]]" (Russian College or 'College of St. Therese') founded in Vatican City by Pope Pius XI and run by the [[w:Society of Jesus|Jesuits]]; Russian Fraternity of Saint Irenee in France celebrates [[Western Rite]].

*1931 Reception of [[Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe]] into the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]], led by Metr. [[Eulogius (Georgievsky) of Paris]]; USSR bans sale or importation of [[Holy Scripture|Bibles]]; the [[w:Bonn Agreement (religion)|Bonn Agreement]] established full communion between the [[Anglican Communion|Church of England]] and [[w:Old Catholic Church|Old Catholic Churches]] of the [[w:Utrecht Union|Union of Utrecht]].

*1931 Reception of [[Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe]] into the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]], led by Metr. [[Eulogius (Georgievsky) of Paris]]; USSR bans sale or importation of [[Holy Scripture|Bibles]]; the [[w:Bonn Agreement (religion)|Bonn Agreement]] established full communion between the [[Anglican Communion|Church of England]] and [[w:Old Catholic Church|Old Catholic Churches]] of the [[w:Utrecht Union|Union of Utrecht]].

*1933 [[Church of Greece]] bans [[Freemasonry]]; Vatican and Germany sign the [[w:Reichskonkordat|Reich Concordat]], guaranteeing the rights of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany.

+

*1933 [[Church of Greece]] bans [[Freemasonry]]; opening of the new Patriarchal Palace in Cairo by Patriarch [[Meletius IV (Metaxakis) of Constantinople|Meletios]], built at the expense of [[w:Greeks_in_Egypt#Egyptiot_Greek_benefactors|Egyptiot Greek benefactor]] Theodore Kotsikas; Vatican and Germany sign the [[w:Reichskonkordat|Reich Concordat]], guaranteeing the rights of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany.

*1935 Critical edition of [[Septuagint]] published in Gottingen Germany by Alfred Rahlfs at the Septuaginta-Unternehmens (Institute); [[Old Calendarists|Old Calendar]] Church is formed when three bishops declared their separation from the official [[Church of Greece]] stating that the calendar change was a schismatic act.

*1935 Critical edition of [[Septuagint]] published in Gottingen Germany by Alfred Rahlfs at the Septuaginta-Unternehmens (Institute); [[Old Calendarists|Old Calendar]] Church is formed when three bishops declared their separation from the official [[Church of Greece]] stating that the calendar change was a schismatic act.

Line 30:

Line 32:

*1936 Ukase of Moscow Patriarchate establishes Western Orthodox Church in France using [[Western Rite]].

*1936 Ukase of Moscow Patriarchate establishes Western Orthodox Church in France using [[Western Rite]].

*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded; death of [[Silouan the Athonite]]; [[American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese]] founded, when a group of 37 Carpatho-Russian Eastern Catholic parishes, under the leadership of Fr. [[Orestes (Chornock) of Agathonikeia|Orestes Chornock]], were received into the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; Swiss psychoanalyst [[w:Carl Jung|Carl Jung]] authors [[w:Psychology_of_religion#Carl_Jung|''Psychology and Religion'']].

*1938 [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)]] and [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)]] founded; death of [[Silouan the Athonite]]; [[American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese]] founded, when a group of 37 Carpatho-Russian Eastern Catholic parishes, under the leadership of Fr. [[Orestes (Chornock) of Agathonikeia|Orestes Chornock]], were received into the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; Swiss psychoanalyst [[w:Carl Jung|Carl Jung]] authors [[w:Psychology_of_religion#Carl_Jung|''Psychology and Religion'']].

*1939 [[w:Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]] is divided as Poland gets partitioned between the German Empire and Soviet Union approximately along the Curzon Line, so that Western Galicia goes to the German Empire, and Eastern Galicia is affiliated with Soviet Ukraine.

*1939 [[w:Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]] is divided as Poland gets partitioned between the German Empire and Soviet Union approximately along the Curzon Line, so that Western Galicia goes to the German Empire, and Eastern Galicia is affiliated with Soviet Ukraine.

*1941 Martyrdom of [[Gorazd (Pavlik) of Prague]] by Nazis; [[Nicholas (Ono) of Japan]] is the first Japanese national to be consecrated an Orthodox bishop.

*1941 Martyrdom of [[Gorazd (Pavlik) of Prague]] by Nazis; [[Nicholas (Ono) of Japan]] is the first Japanese national to be consecrated an Orthodox bishop.

+

*1941-44 [[Pskov Orthodox Mission]] works for the revival of Orthodox Church life in North-Western Russia and the three neighbouring Baltic republics (the 'Liberated Regions of Russia'), during their occupation by Nazi Germany .

*1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of [[Church of Georgia]]; first constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna; Joseph Stalin meets with hierarchs of Russian Orthodox Church to establish a "patriotic union," granting concessions to the church, including the gathering of the holy synod and the election of [[Sergius I (Stragorodsky) of Moscow|Sergius I]] as patriarch of Moscow.

+

* 1943 [[Church of Russia]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of [[Church of Georgia]]; first constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by [[Christopher Reuben Spartas|Reuben Spartas]] and Arthur Gathuna; Joseph Stalin meets with hierarchs of Russian Orthodox Church to establish a "patriotic union," granting concessions to the church, including the gathering of the holy synod and the election of [[Sergius I (Stragorodsky) of Moscow|Sergius I]] as patriarch of Moscow.

−

*1943-44 Hundreds of Orthodox priests of the [[Church of Ukraine|Ukrainian Orthodox Church]] eliminated, tortured and drowned by Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists - [[w:Ukrainian Insurgent Army|Ukrainian Rebel Army]], aided by [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Uniate]] Metr. Josyf Slipyj who was a spiritual leader of Nazi military units that were later condemned by the Nuremberg tribunal, and who was imprisoned by Soviet authorities for aiding the UPA.

+

* 1943-1944 Hundreds of Orthodox priests of the [[Church of Ukraine|Ukrainian Orthodox Church]] eliminated, tortured and drowned by Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists - [[w:Ukrainian Insurgent Army|Ukrainian Rebel Army]], aided by [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Uniate]] Metr. Josyf Slipyj who was a spiritual leader of Nazi military units that were later condemned by the Nuremberg tribunal, and who was imprisoned by Soviet authorities for aiding the UPA.

−

*1944 Fr. [[Jean-Nectaire (Kovalevsky) of Saint-Denis|Evgraph (Kovalevsky)]] completes restoration of [[Liturgy of St. Germaine de Paris]].

+

* 1944 Fr. [[Jean-Nectaire (Kovalevsky) of Saint-Denis|Evgraph Kovalevsky]] completes restoration of [[Divine Liturgy according to St. Germanus of Paris|Liturgy of St. Germaine de Paris]].

−

*1945 [[Church of Bulgaria]]'s [[autocephaly]] generally recognized; library of early Christian texts discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt; Soviet Union annexes Czechoslovakia; [[Church of Russia]] claims jurisdiction over the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].

*1945-58 In the post-war era the official organization of the [[Church of Russia]] was greatly expanded (although individual members of the clergy were occasionally arrested and exiled), with the number of open churches reaching ca. 25,000.

+

* 1945-1958 In the post-war era the official organization of the [[Church of Russia]] was greatly expanded (although individual members of the clergy were occasionally arrested and exiled), with the number of open churches reaching ca. 25,000.

−

*1945-90 Persecution of the [[Church of Albania|Orthodox Church in Albania]].

+

* 1945-1990 Persecution of the [[Church of Albania|Orthodox Church in Albania]].

−

*1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria; Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognizes and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda; state-sponsored synod is held at Lviv, Ukraine in March, which officially dissolves the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]] and integrates the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church into the Russian Orthodox Church, Soviet authorities arresting resisters or deporting them to Siberia; first post-war ROCOR Council of Bishops is convened in Munich.

+

* 1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria; Holy Synod of the [[Church of Alexandria]] officially recognizes and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda; state-sponsored synod is held at Lviv, Ukraine in March, which officially dissolves the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]] and integrates the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church into the Russian Orthodox Church, Soviet authorities arresting resisters or deporting them to Siberia; first post-war ROCOR Council of Bishops is convened in Munich.

−

*1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] discovered near Qumran in Egypt, pre-dating the Masoretic text by about a millenium, many fragments of which agree with the [[Septuagint]] version of the Bible over and against the Masoretic Text, proving that many of the variants in the Greek were also present in ancient Hebrew manuscripts; death of [[Alexis (Kabaliuk) of Carpathia|Alexei Kabalyiuk]], who played a major role in reviving Orthodoxy in [[w:Zakarpattia Oblast|Transcarpathia]] in the early 20th century.

+

* 1947 [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] discovered near Qumran in Egypt, pre-dating the Masoretic text by about a millenium, many fragments of which agree with the [[Septuagint]] version of the Bible over and against the Masoretic Text, proving that many of the variants in the Greek were also present in ancient Hebrew manuscripts; death of [[Alexis (Kabaliuk) of Carpathia|Alexei Kabalyiuk]], who played a major role in reviving Orthodoxy in [[w:Zakarpattia Oblast|Transcarpathia]] in the early 20th century.

−

*1948 Establishment of [[w:State of Israel|State of Israel]] and end of [[w:British Mandate of Palestine|British Mandate of Palestine]]; [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II); [[w:World Council of Churches|World Council of Churches]] is founded; [[Council of Moscow (1948)|Council of Moscow]] is held on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the independence of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Church]] from [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]], with representatives of the local Orthodox Churches rejecting all participation in the World Council of Churches.

+

* 1948 Martyrdom of Protopresbyter Dr. [[Gabriel Kostelnik]], a Carpatho-Russian priest who returned to the Orthodox Church soon after the end of World War II, having presided over the Lvov Assembly in March 1946 calling for the return of all Uniates to the Orthodox Faith; establishment of [[w:State of Israel|State of Israel]] and end of [[w:British Mandate of Palestine|British Mandate of Palestine]]; [[Church of Russia]] re-grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of Poland]] (after having revoked it in the aftermath of World War II); [[w:World Council of Churches|World Council of Churches]] is founded; [[Council of Moscow (1948)|Council of Moscow]] is held on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the independence of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Church]] from [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]], with representatives of the local Orthodox Churches rejecting all participation in the World Council of Churches; after the Soviet Union recognized the state of Israel, Israel returned all Russian church properties on its territory to the [[Moscow Patriarchate]], including the [[w:Russian Compound|Russian Compound]].

−

*1949 Soviet authorities revoke the [[w:Union of Uzhhorod|Union of Uzhhorod]] of 1646, creating the Orthodox Eparchy of Mukachiv-Uzhhorod, under the Patriarch of Moscow; Communist takeover of China leads to oppression of religious groups.

+

* 1949 Soviet authorities revoke the [[w:Union of Uzhhorod|Union of Uzhhorod]] of 1646, creating the Orthodox Eparchy of Mukachiv-Uzhhorod, under the Patriarch of Moscow; Communist takeover of China leads to oppression of religious groups.

−

*1950 [[w:Pope Pius XII|Pope Pius XII]] proclaims the [[w:Bodily Assumption|Bodily Assumption]] of the Virgin Mary as a dogma; [[Symeon (Du) of Shanghai|Symeon (Du)]] is consecrated Bishop of Tianjin in July, becoming the first Chinese Orthodox bishop, transferred in September to be Bishop of Shanghai (1950-1965).

+

* 1950 Pope [[w:Pope Pius XII|Pius XII]] proclaims the [[w:Bodily Assumption|Bodily Assumption]] of the Virgin Mary as a dogma; [[Symeon (Du) of Shanghai|Symeon (Du)]] is consecrated Bishop of Tianjin in July, becoming the first Chinese Orthodox bishop, transferred in September to be Bishop of Shanghai (1950-1965).

−

*1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]]; 1500th anniversary celebration of the [[Church of Jerusalem|Patriarchate of Jerusalem]].

+

* 1951 [[Church of Russia]] grants [[autocephaly]] to the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia|Czechoslovakian Orthodox Church]]; 1500th anniversary celebration of the [[Church of Jerusalem|Patriarchate of Jerusalem]].

−

*1952 New Monastery of Panagia Soumela built in the village of Kastania, in Macedonia, Greece, housing the wonderworking icon of [[Panagia Soumela]], becoming a center of religious pilgrimage; Dr. Carl Jung publishes his ''[[w:Answer to Job|Answer to Job]],'' addressing the 'problem of evil'; the [[w:Bible translations (Amharic)|Revised Amharic Bible]] (''H.I.M. Haile Sellassie I Authorized Royal Amharic Bible'') is produced under the [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Statement_on_the_Revised_Amharic_Bible patronage of Emperor Haile Selassie], being presented to him on April 19th, 1952, and first published in 1961.

+

* 1952 Death of [[Matrona of Moscow|Matrona the Wonderworker of Moscow]]; new Monastery of Panagia Soumela built in the village of Kastania, in Macedonia, Greece, housing the wonderworking icon of [[Panagia Soumela]], becoming a center of religious pilgrimage; Dr. Carl Jung publishes his ''[[w:Answer to Job|Answer to Job]],'' addressing the 'problem of evil'; the [[w:Bible translations (Amharic)|Revised Amharic Bible]] (''H.I.M. Haile Sellassie I Authorized Royal Amharic Bible'') is produced under the [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Statement_on_the_Revised_Amharic_Bible patronage of Emperor Haile Selassie], being presented to him on April 19th, 1952, and first published in 1961.

* 1952-1960 With the onset of the [[w:Mau Mau Uprising|Mau-Mau Movement]] in Kenya (''British East Africa Protectorate''), the [[Orthodox Church]] is banished by the British Colonial Government suffering severe oppression.

−

*1956 [[Church of China]] under Chinese administration is established under pressure from the Chinese authorities.

*1958 Patr. of Antioch adopts provisions of Russian synods of 1879 and 1907 for use by [[Western Rite]] in America ; Western Orthodox Church of France comes under Abp. [[John Maximovitch]], who authorizes the use of the restored Gallican rite.

+

* 1958-1964 In the USSR [[w:Nikita Khrushchev|Nikita Khrushchov]] initiated his own campaign against the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]] and forced the closure of about 12,000 churches. Many closed churches were deastoyed.

* 1958 Patr. of Antioch adopts provisions of Russian synods of 1879 and 1907 for use by [[Western Rite]] in America; Western Orthodox Church of France comes under Abp. [[John Maximovitch]], who authorizes the use of the restored Gallican rite.

−

*1961 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]]; death of [[Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) of Simferopol]]; consecration of first Orthodox Church in Uganda; first Pan-Orthodox Conference in Rhodes; Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man to fly in outer space; death of eminent psychologist Dr. [[w:Carl Jung|Carl Jung]], often considered the first modern psychologist to state that the [[w:Psyche (psychology)|human psyche]] is "by nature religious" and to explore it in depth.

*1962 Philosopher and historian of science [[w:Thomas Samuel Kuhn|Thomas Kuhn]] publishes ''[[w:The Structure of Scientific Revolutions|The Structure of Scientific Revolutions]],'' a landmark study in the [[w:Sociology of knowledge|sociology of knowledge]], popularizing the terms "paradigm" and "paradigm shift", seeking to debunk the conception of cumulative scientific development as a myth.

+

* 1961 Creation of [[Western Rite Vicariate]] in the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]]; death of [[Luke (Voino-Yasenetsky) of Simferopol]]; consecration of first Orthodox Church in Uganda; first Pan-Orthodox Conference in Rhodes; first ever visit of a Greek Orthodox Patriarch to Canada, as Patr. [[Benedict of Jerusalem]] begins a North-American tour to raise funds for the restoration of the shrines in the [[Holy Land]]; [[:w:Yuri Gagarin|Yuri Gagarin]] becomes the first man to fly in outer space; death of eminent psychologist Dr. [[w:Carl Jung|Carl Jung]], often considered the first modern psychologist to state that the [[w:Psyche (psychology)|human psyche]] is "by nature religious" and to explore it in depth.

−

*1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including restriction of ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and introduction of the Novus Ordo.

+

* 1962 Philosopher and historian of science [[w:Thomas Samuel Kuhn|Thomas Kuhn]] publishes ''[[w:The Structure of Scientific Revolutions|The Structure of Scientific Revolutions]],'' a landmark study in the [[w:Sociology of knowledge|sociology of knowledge]], popularizing the terms "paradigm" and "paradigm shift", seeking to debunk the conception of cumulative scientific development as a myth.

* 1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major modernist liturgical and theological reforms for the [[Roman Catholic Church]], including restriction of ancient [[Tridentine Mass]] and introduction of the Novus Ordo.

−

*1964 Meeting of Pope [[Paul VI of Rome]] and Patr. [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] in Jerusalem; third Pan-Orthodox Conference in Rhodes; [[Synaxis of the Saints of Rostov]] established by resolution of His Holiness Patriarch [[Alexei I (Simansky) of Moscow|Alexis I]] and the Holy Synod of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]].

+

* 1963 1900th anniversary of martyrdom of [[Apostle Mark]]; second Pan-Orthodox Conference in Rhodes; 1000th anniversary celebration of founding of [[Mount Athos]]; independence of Kenya from British colonial rule eases the situation of the Orthodox Church, which is eventually recognized by President [[w:Jomo Kenyatta|Jomo Kenyatta]] and receives help from the [[Church of Cyprus]] over time; on the [[Sunday of Orthodoxy]] March 3rd 1963 an assembly of priests and laypeople from Kenya and Uganda was held in Kampala, reaffirming their full support and attachment to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria.

−

*1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the [[excommunication]]s of 1054 ; Abp. [[John Maximovitch]] consecrates [[Jean-Nectaire (Kovalevsky) of Saint-Denis|Jean-Nectaire (Kovalevsky)]] for Western Orthodox Church of France; the office of ''[[w:Latin Patriarch of Constantinople|Latin Patriarch of Constantinople]]'' is officially abolished.

+

* 1964 Meeting of Pope [[Paul VI of Rome]] and Patr. [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] in Jerusalem; third Pan-Orthodox Conference in Rhodes; [[Synaxis of the Saints of Rostov]] established by resolution of His Holiness Patriarch [[Alexei I (Simansky) of Moscow|Alexis I]] and the Holy Synod of the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]]; the [[w:Russian Compound|Russian Compound]] was purchased by the government of Israel from the [[Moscow Patriarchate]] (except for the cathedral and one building), paid for in $3.5 million worth of oranges (The "Orange Deal").

−

*1966 The [[w:Cultural Revolution|Cultural Revolution]] almost totally destroyed the young [[Church of China|Chinese Orthodox Church]]; the ''[[w:Index Librorum Prohibitorum|Index Librorum Prohibitorum]]'' ("List of Prohibited Books") is formally abolished on 14 June by Pope Paul VI.

+

* 1965 Pope Paul VI of Rome and Patriarch [[Athenagoras I (Spyrou) of Constantinople]] mutually nullify the [[excommunication]]s of 1054; Abp. [[John Maximovitch]] consecrates [[Jean-Nectaire (Kovalevsky) of Saint-Denis|Jean-Nectaire (Kovalevsky)]] for Western Orthodox Church of France; the office of ''[[w:Latin Patriarch of Constantinople|Latin Patriarch of Constantinople]]'' is officially abolished.

−

*1967 [[Macedonian Orthodox Church |Church of Macedonia]] unilaterally declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]] (as yet unrecognized); Albania is declared an atheist state, closing all religious institutions and forbiding any religious practices.

+

* 1966 [[Translation (relics)|Translation]] of the sacred [[relics]] of the Holy [[Apostle Titus]] of Crete, from Venice (which took them in 1669), back to the Greek Orthodox [[Archdiocese of Crete]]; the [[w:Cultural Revolution|Cultural Revolution]] almost totally destroyed the young [[Church of China|Chinese Orthodox Church]]; the ''[[w:Index Librorum Prohibitorum|Index Librorum Prohibitorum]]'' ("List of Prohibited Books") is formally abolished on 14 June by Pope Paul VI.

* 1967 [[Macedonian Orthodox Church |Church of Macedonia]] unilaterally declares its [[autocephaly]], making it independent of the [[Church of Serbia]] (as yet unrecognized); Albania is declared an atheist state, closing all religious institutions and forbiding any religious practices.

−

*1968-71 Millions of Christians, Muslims, Jews and others witness apparitions of the [[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]] many times over a three year period over the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Mary at [[Zeitun]], Cairo, recognized as authentic by the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church]] and other churches.

+

* 1968 Visit to [[Patriarchate of Alexandria]] by Vatican representatives, who give Patr. [[Nicholas VI of Alexandria|Nicholas VI]] a part of the relics of [[Apostle Mark|St Mark]] from Venice, on behalf of Pope [[Paul VI of Rome|Paul VI]]; fourth Pan-Orthodox Conference in Chambesy, Switzerland.

−

*1969 Metr. [[Philaret (Voznesensky) of New York]] ([[ROCOR]]) issues the first of a series of "Sorrowful Epistles" (1969,1971,1975) to the primates of the local Orthodox Churches, condemning forays into [[ecumenism]].

+

* 1968-1971 Millions of Christians, Muslims, Jews and others witness apparitions of the [[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]] many times over a three year period over the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Mary at [[Zeitun]], Cairo, recognized as authentic by the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church]] and other churches.

−

*1970 [[Orthodox Church in America|Russian-American Metropolia]] reconciles with [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]], renamed as the Orthodox Church in America, returning control of [[Church of Japan]] to Moscow, which grants it [[autonomy]]; glorification of [[Herman of Alaska]] in separate services by the ROCOR and the OCA; Abp. [[Makarios III (Mouskos) of Cyprus]] baptizes 10,000 into the Orthodox Church in Kenya.

+

* 1969 Metr. [[Philaret (Voznesensky) of New York]] ([[ROCOR]]) issues the first of a series of "Sorrowful Epistles" (1969, 1971, 1975) to the primates of the local Orthodox Churches, condemning forays into [[ecumenism]].

−

*1971 [[Theological School of Halki|Halki Seminary]] closed by Turkish authorities.

+

* 1970 [[Orthodox Church in America|Russian-American Metropolia]] reconciles with [[Church of Russia]] and is granted [[autocephaly]], renamed as the Orthodox Church in America, returning control of [[Church of Japan]] to Moscow, which grants it [[autonomy]]; glorification of [[Herman of Alaska]] in separate services by the ROCOR and the OCA; Abp. [[Makarios III (Mouskos) of Cyprus]] baptizes 10,000 into the Orthodox Church in Kenya.

−

*1972 Death of pioneer missionary Archim. [[Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos]], having laboured to spread the Orthodox faith in [[Archdiocese of Kampala and All Uganda|Uganda]], [[Archdiocese of Kenya|Kenya]], [[Archdiocese of Mwanza|Tanzania]], and [[Archdiocese of Central Africa|Congo]].

+

* 1971 [[Theological School of Halki|Halki Seminary]] closed by Turkish authorities; inauguration of the new Patriarchal Palace of the [[Church of Alexandria]] at St Savva Monastery (21 November).

−

*1973 Anglican-Orthodox dialogue began, when the Anglican-Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Discussions (A/OJDD) held its first meeting in Oxford.

+

* 1972 Death of pioneer missionary Archim. [[Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos]], having laboured to spread the Orthodox faith in [[Archdiocese of Kampala and All Uganda|Uganda]], [[Archdiocese of Kenya|Kenya]], [[Archdiocese of Mwanza|Tanzania]], and [[Archdiocese of Central Africa|Congo]].

−

*1974 1600th anniversary of death of [[Athanasius the Great]].

+

* 1973 Anglican-Orthodox dialogue began, when the Anglican-Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Discussions (A/OJDD) held its first meeting in Oxford; Fr. [[Christopher Reuben Spartas|Reuben Mukasa Spartas]] is consecrated as Bp. Christophoros of Nilopolis; Fr. George Arthur Gatung'u Gathuna is consecrated as the Bishop of Nitrea on February 25 in Kagira, the first black African Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Kenya.

−

*1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metr. [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Abp. [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]]; Joint Commission of Orthodox and Old Catholic theologians is established.

+

* 1974 1600th anniversary of death of [[Athanasius the Great]].

−

*1976 First Pre-Synodal Pan-Orthodox Conference at Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Switzerland; the first phase of the Anglican-Orthodox dialogue was concluded by the publication of ''The Moscow Agreed Statement;'' the General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the USA (ECUSA) approves ordination of women to all three orders: bishop, priest, and deacon.

+

* 1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metr. [[Philip (Saliba) of New York]] and Abp. [[Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo]]; Joint Commission of Orthodox and Old Catholic theologians is established.

* 1976 First Pre-Synodal Pan-Orthodox Conference at Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Switzerland; the first phase of the Anglican-Orthodox dialogue was concluded by the publication of ''The Moscow Agreed Statement;'' the General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the USA (ECUSA) approves ordination of women to all three orders: bishop, priest, and deacon.

−

*1979 Pope [[John Paul II]] visits Ecumenical Patriarchate; torture and martyrdom of Archim. [[Philoumenos (Hasapis) of Jacob's Well|Philoumenos (Hasapis)]], keeper of the Greek monastery of [[Jacob's Well]] in Samaria (Nablus, West Bank), by Zionist extremists who also desecrate the church; Joint Commission of Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches for Theological Dialogue established by Pope [[John Paul II]] and Patr. [[Demetrius I (Papadopoulos) of Constantinople]].

* 1981 Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission meets for the first time in Espoo, Finland.

*1982 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission publishes in Munich first official common document, "The Mystery of the Church and of the Eucharist in Light of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity"; second Pre-Synodal Pan-Orthodox Conference in Chambesy, Switzerland; formal founding of [[Makarios III (Mouskos) of Cyprus|Makarios III]] Patriarchal Seminary in Nairobi, [[Archdiocese of Kenya|Kenya]].

*1982 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission publishes in Munich first official common document, "The Mystery of the Church and of the Eucharist in Light of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity"; second Pre-Synodal Pan-Orthodox Conference in Chambesy, Switzerland; formal founding of [[Makarios III (Mouskos) of Cyprus|Makarios III]] Patriarchal Seminary in Nairobi, [[Archdiocese of Kenya|Kenya]].

*1987 Visit by Ecumenical Patr. [[Demetrius I (Papadopoulos) of Constantinople]] to Vatican; Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission issues common document "Faith, Sacraments and the Unity of the Church"; group of twenty parishes of the [[Evangelical Orthodox Church]], originally formed by former Campus Crusade for Christ leaders [[Peter Gillquist]] and [[Jon Braun]], are received into [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|Antiochian Archdiocese]] in US, becoming the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues the statement "Scripture and Tradition;" [[Optina Monastery]] was officially re-established; on [[August 19]] Patr. [[Pimen I (Izvekov) of Moscow|Pimen]] of Moscow and All Russia, and Ec. Patr. [[Demetrius I (Papadopoulos) of Constantinople|Demetrios I]] of Constantinople co-celebrated the [[Divine Liturgy]] on the Feast of the [[Transfiguration]] at the [[w:Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius|Holy Trinity St. Sergius Monastery]] for the first time in 398 years (since January 1589).

+

* 1987 Visit by Ecumenical Patr. [[Demetrius I (Papadopoulos) of Constantinople]] to Vatican; Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission issues common document "Faith, Sacraments and the Unity of the Church"; group of twenty parishes of the [[Evangelical Orthodox Church]], originally formed by former Campus Crusade for Christ leaders [[Peter Gillquist]] and [[Jon Braun]], are received into [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America|Antiochian Archdiocese]] in US, becoming the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues the statement "Scripture and Tradition;" [[Optina Monastery]] was officially re-established; on [[August 19]] Patr. [[Pimen (Izvekov) of Moscow|Pimen]] of Moscow and All Russia, and Ec. Patr. [[Demetrius I (Papadopoulos) of Constantinople|Demetrios I]] of Constantinople co-celebrated the [[Divine Liturgy]] on the Feast of the [[Transfiguration]] at the [[Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra|Holy Trinity St. Sergius Monastery]] for the first time in 398 years (since January 1589); death of noted Russian iconographer [[Leonid Alexandrovich Ouspensky]].

−

*1988 1000th anniversary of Orthodoxy in Russia; Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission publishes common document "The Sacrament of Order in the Sacramental Structure of the Church"; Indonesian Muslim convert to Orthodoxy Fr. [[Daniel (Bambang Dwi) Byantoro|Daniel Byantoro]] begins his mission in Indonesia, sparking the rebirth of Orthodoxy there; [[Mount Athos]] is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

+

* 1988 1000th anniversary of Orthodoxy in Russia; the beginning of renaissance the Orthodoxy in USSR; Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission publishes common document "The Sacrament of Order in the Sacramental Structure of the Church"; Indonesian Muslim convert to Orthodoxy Fr. [[Daniel (Bambang Dwi) Byantoro|Daniel Byantoro]] begins his mission in Indonesia, sparking the rebirth of Orthodoxy there; [[Mount Athos]] is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

−

*1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]]; [[Ephraim of Philotheou|Elder Ephraim]] begins founding [[Mount Athos|Athonite]]-style monasteries in North America; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement "The Canon and the Inspiration of the Holy Scripture"; glorification in Russia of [[Tikhon of Moscow]]; Uniate Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church legalized, with Greek Catholics beginning seizure of property from Russian Orthodox Church, which they claimed as theirs prior to the synod of 1946; the third phase of the Anglican-Orthodox dialogue began, when the commission was re-constituted as The International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue (ICAOTD), under the chairmanship of Metr. [[John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon|John of Pergamon]] and Bp. Henry Hill (succeeded in 1990 by Bp. Mark Dyer); Orthodox-Oriental Orthodox Joint Commission adopts the first Agreed Statement on Christology, at a historic meeting at the Anba Bishoy Monastery, Egypt from June 20-24, 1989.

+

* 1989 [[Church of Constantinople]] recognizes [[autocephaly]] of the [[Church of Georgia]]; [[Ephraim of Philotheou|Elder Ephraim]] begins founding [[Mount Athos|Athonite]]-style monasteries in North America; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement "The Canon and the Inspiration of the Holy Scripture"; glorification in Russia of [[Tikhon of Moscow]]; Uniate Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church legalized, with Greek Catholics beginning seizure of property from Russian Orthodox Church, which they claimed as theirs prior to the synod of 1946; the third phase of the Anglican-Orthodox dialogue began, when the commission was re-constituted as The International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue (ICAOTD), under the chairmanship of Metr. [[John (Zizioulas) of Pergamon|John of Pergamon]] and Bp. Henry Hill (succeeded in 1990 by Bp. Mark Dyer); Orthodox-Oriental Orthodox Joint Commission adopts the first Agreed Statement on Christology, at a historic meeting at the Anba Bishoy Monastery, Egypt from June 20-24, 1989.

−

*1990 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Theological Commission meets in Freising, Germany; first Orthodox service in seventy years held in [[St. Basil's Cathedral (Moscow)|St. Basil's Cathedral]]; martyrdom of Fr. [[Alexander Men]]; [[Church of Ukraine (Kiev Patriarchate)|Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Kiev Patriarchate]] (UOC-KP) self-proclaims its independance from the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church|UAOC]] (both groups unrecognized); death of Fr. Athanasios Anthides, first Greek Orthodox Missionary to India, suceeded a year later by priest-monk Fr. [[Ignatios (Sennis) of Madagascar|Ignatios Sennis]], who came to Calcutta to continue the mission; Orthodox-Oriental Orthodox Joint Commission adopts the Second Agreed Statement; commemoration of the [[Optina Monastery]] [[Geronta|startsi]] was approved by the Synod of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia|Russian Church Abroad]] in 1990 (''and by [[Church of Russia|MP]] in 1996'').

+

* 1990 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Theological Commission meets in Freising, Germany; first Orthodox service in seventy years held in [[St. Basil's Cathedral (Moscow)|St. Basil's Cathedral]]; murder of Fr. [[Alexander Men]]; death of Fr. Athanasios Anthides, first Greek Orthodox Missionary to India, suceeded a year later by priest-monk Fr. [[Ignatios (Sennis) of Madagascar|Ignatios Sennis]], who came to Calcutta to continue the mission; Orthodox-Oriental Orthodox Joint Commission adopts the Second Agreed Statement; commemoration of the [[Optina Monastery]] [[Geronta|startsy]] was approved by the Synod of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia|Russian Church Abroad]] in 1990 (''and by [[Church of Russia|MP]] in 1996'').

The History of the Church is a vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. Orthodox Christians are defined significantly by their continuity with all those who have gone before, those who first received and preached the truth of Jesus Christ to the world, those who helped to formulate the expression and worship of our faith, and those who continue to move forward in the unchanging yet ever-dynamic Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church.

1929 Papal Bull Cum data fuerit regulates Uniate clergy in the US, mandating celibacy, resulting in the return of several parishes back to Orthodoxy in 1938; kingdom of Italy and Papacy ratify Lateran Treaty, recognizing sovereignty of Papacy within the new state of the Vatican City; "Russicum" (Russian College or 'College of St. Therese') founded in Vatican City by Pope Pius XI and run by the Jesuits; Russian Fraternity of Saint Irenee in France celebrates Western Rite.

1934 HieromartyrJohn (Pommers) of Riga; episcopal consecration of John Maximovitch; Daniel William Alexander travels to Kenya, establishing African Orthodox Church led by Arthur Gathuna; clergy opposing Nazi regime in Germany have homes raided by secret police.

1935 Critical edition of Septuagint published in Gottingen Germany by Alfred Rahlfs at the Septuaginta-Unternehmens (Institute); Old Calendar Church is formed when three bishops declared their separation from the official Church of Greece stating that the calendar change was a schismatic act.

1939 Galicia is divided as Poland gets partitioned between the German Empire and Soviet Union approximately along the Curzon Line, so that Western Galicia goes to the German Empire, and Eastern Galicia is affiliated with Soviet Ukraine.

1941-44 Pskov Orthodox Mission works for the revival of Orthodox Church life in North-Western Russia and the three neighbouring Baltic republics (the 'Liberated Regions of Russia'), during their occupation by Nazi Germany .

1943 Church of Russia recognizes autocephaly of Church of Georgia; first constitution of the African Orthodox Church in East Africa signed by Reuben Spartas and Arthur Gathuna; Joseph Stalin meets with hierarchs of Russian Orthodox Church to establish a "patriotic union," granting concessions to the church, including the gathering of the holy synod and the election of Sergius I as patriarch of Moscow.

1943-1944 Hundreds of Orthodox priests of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church eliminated, tortured and drowned by Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists - Ukrainian Rebel Army, aided by Uniate Metr. Josyf Slipyj who was a spiritual leader of Nazi military units that were later condemned by the Nuremberg tribunal, and who was imprisoned by Soviet authorities for aiding the UPA.

1945-1958 In the post-war era the official organization of the Church of Russia was greatly expanded (although individual members of the clergy were occasionally arrested and exiled), with the number of open churches reaching ca. 25,000.

1946 Reuben Spartas of the African Orthodox Church visits Alexandria; Holy Synod of the Church of Alexandria officially recognizes and accepts the African Greek Orthodox Church in Kenya and Uganda; state-sponsored synod is held at Lviv, Ukraine in March, which officially dissolves the Union of Brest-Litovsk and integrates the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church into the Russian Orthodox Church, Soviet authorities arresting resisters or deporting them to Siberia; first post-war ROCOR Council of Bishops is convened in Munich.

1947 Dead Sea Scrolls discovered near Qumran in Egypt, pre-dating the Masoretic text by about a millenium, many fragments of which agree with the Septuagint version of the Bible over and against the Masoretic Text, proving that many of the variants in the Greek were also present in ancient Hebrew manuscripts; death of Alexei Kabalyiuk, who played a major role in reviving Orthodoxy in Transcarpathia in the early 20th century.

1949 Soviet authorities revoke the Union of Uzhhorod of 1646, creating the Orthodox Eparchy of Mukachiv-Uzhhorod, under the Patriarch of Moscow; Communist takeover of China leads to oppression of religious groups.

1950 Pope Pius XII proclaims the Bodily Assumption of the Virgin Mary as a dogma; Symeon (Du) is consecrated Bishop of Tianjin in July, becoming the first Chinese Orthodox bishop, transferred in September to be Bishop of Shanghai (1950-1965).

1958 Patr. of Antioch adopts provisions of Russian synods of 1879 and 1907 for use by Western Rite in America; Western Orthodox Church of France comes under Abp. John Maximovitch, who authorizes the use of the restored Gallican rite.

1962-1965 Second Vatican Council held in Rome, initiating major modernist liturgical and theological reforms for the Roman Catholic Church, including restriction of ancient Tridentine Mass and introduction of the Novus Ordo.

1963 1900th anniversary of martyrdom of Apostle Mark; second Pan-Orthodox Conference in Rhodes; 1000th anniversary celebration of founding of Mount Athos; independence of Kenya from British colonial rule eases the situation of the Orthodox Church, which is eventually recognized by President Jomo Kenyatta and receives help from the Church of Cyprus over time; on the Sunday of Orthodoxy March 3rd 1963 an assembly of priests and laypeople from Kenya and Uganda was held in Kampala, reaffirming their full support and attachment to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria.

1967 Church of Macedonia unilaterally declares its autocephaly, making it independent of the Church of Serbia (as yet unrecognized); Albania is declared an atheist state, closing all religious institutions and forbiding any religious practices.

1968-1971 Millions of Christians, Muslims, Jews and others witness apparitions of the Virgin Mary many times over a three year period over the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Mary at Zeitun, Cairo, recognized as authentic by the Coptic Orthodox Church and other churches.

1973 Anglican-Orthodox dialogue began, when the Anglican-Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Discussions (A/OJDD) held its first meeting in Oxford; Fr. Reuben Mukasa Spartas is consecrated as Bp. Christophoros of Nilopolis; Fr. George Arthur Gatung'u Gathuna is consecrated as the Bishop of Nitrea on February 25 in Kagira, the first black African Bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church of Kenya.

1975 Division in the Antiochian church in North America overcome by the uniting of the two Antiochian archdioceses into one by Metr. Philip (Saliba) of New York and Abp. Michael (Shaheen) of Toledo; Joint Commission of Orthodox and Old Catholic theologians is established.

1976 First Pre-Synodal Pan-Orthodox Conference at Orthodox Centre of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Switzerland; the first phase of the Anglican-Orthodox dialogue was concluded by the publication of The Moscow Agreed Statement; the General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the USA (ECUSA) approves ordination of women to all three orders: bishop, priest, and deacon.

1980 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue, 1st plenary, met in Patmos and Rhodes; Greek priest-monk Fr. Athanasios Anthides travelled to India to begin a systematic Orthodox Mission in the rural area of Arambah, in West Bengal; Jamaican singer-songwriter and musician Bob Marley (+1981) is baptized by Abp. Abuna Yesehaq of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Kingston, Jamaica, on November 4, 1980.

1981 Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission meets for the first time in Espoo, Finland.

1982 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission publishes in Munich first official common document, "The Mystery of the Church and of the Eucharist in Light of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity"; second Pre-Synodal Pan-Orthodox Conference in Chambesy, Switzerland; formal founding of Makarios III Patriarchal Seminary in Nairobi, Kenya.

1984 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission, 3rd plenary, meets in Khania, Crete; the second phase of the Anglican-Orthodox dialogue was concluded with the publication of The Dublin Agreed Statement; neomartyr Bp. Paul (de Ballester-Convallier) of Nazianzus.

1988 1000th anniversary of Orthodoxy in Russia; the beginning of renaissance the Orthodoxy in USSR; Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Commission publishes common document "The Sacrament of Order in the Sacramental Structure of the Church"; Indonesian Muslim convert to Orthodoxy Fr. Daniel Byantoro begins his mission in Indonesia, sparking the rebirth of Orthodoxy there; Mount Athos is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

1989 Church of Constantinople recognizes autocephaly of the Church of Georgia; Elder Ephraim begins founding Athonite-style monasteries in North America; Lutheran-Orthodox Joint Commission issues statement "The Canon and the Inspiration of the Holy Scripture"; glorification in Russia of Tikhon of Moscow; Uniate Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church legalized, with Greek Catholics beginning seizure of property from Russian Orthodox Church, which they claimed as theirs prior to the synod of 1946; the third phase of the Anglican-Orthodox dialogue began, when the commission was re-constituted as The International Commission for Anglican-Orthodox Theological Dialogue (ICAOTD), under the chairmanship of Metr. John of Pergamon and Bp. Henry Hill (succeeded in 1990 by Bp. Mark Dyer); Orthodox-Oriental Orthodox Joint Commission adopts the first Agreed Statement on Christology, at a historic meeting at the Anba Bishoy Monastery, Egypt from June 20-24, 1989.

1990 Orthodox-Roman Catholic Joint Theological Commission meets in Freising, Germany; first Orthodox service in seventy years held in St. Basil's Cathedral; murder of Fr. Alexander Men; death of Fr. Athanasios Anthides, first Greek Orthodox Missionary to India, suceeded a year later by priest-monk Fr. Ignatios Sennis, who came to Calcutta to continue the mission; Orthodox-Oriental Orthodox Joint Commission adopts the Second Agreed Statement; commemoration of the Optina Monasterystartsy was approved by the Synod of the Russian Church Abroad in 1990 (and by MP in 1996).

Notes

Some of these dates are necessarily a bit vague, as records for some periods are particularly difficult to piece together accurately.

The division of Church History into separate eras as done here will always be to some extent arbitrary, though it was attempted to group periods according to major watershed events.

This timeline is necessarily biased toward the history of the Orthodox Church, though a number of non-Orthodox or purely political events are mentioned for their importance in history related to Orthodoxy or for reference.